CONFIDENTIAL
to the bar of public opinion. The Berne human rights meeting would also be important.
23.
Genscher recalled that last February in Karlsbad he had discussed the Gorbachev proposals with the Czech Foreign Minister. The latter had laid heavy emphasis on the importance of the fact that the Soviet Union was now, for the first time, ready to accept verification.
24. Notes were exchanged on the current progress of the Polish Church Agriculture Scheme. Both sides had reports that the Polish Church was very pessimistic. Orzechowski, however, had told Genscher that he expected the negotiations to be completed within a month or so.
25. It was agreed that both countries should go on pressing the Americans over compliance, supporting Shultz wherever possible and working closely together.
EC/Space
26. Genscher displayed major enthusiasm for various aspects of the European Space Programme, and pressed hard in particular on the UK position towards Hermes (the Secretary of State under- took to investigate). In connection with the Columbus project, he said vigorously that his own preoccupation was to support the development of a model which could also be used for a future European space station. It was vital to keep Europe involved in this field, which would be of such importance in the future. We had not left it to the Americans to develop the steam engine. We should avoid becoming dependent on the US. He undertook to send the Secretary of State some relevant papers. Every time he saw Kohl, he told him not to forget Hermes! projects were vital if the FRG was to overcome the Kulturpessimismus and anxiety about the future which had constrained the country in the 1970s. In this connection, Genscher said that he had been excited by the British commitment to the Channel fixed link project.
27.
WEU enlargement
Such
The Secretary of State explained our doubts. Genscher argued that it would be difficult, especially after the outcome of the NATO referendum in Spain, to turn down a Spanish application; nor would it be easy to reject one from Norway, given that country's reliability in NATO matters. He personally therefore favoured enlargement though he would not press the point if others objected. He did not think Spain or Norway would make additional problems.
CRBudd
( C R Budd)
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14 April 1986
- 6 CONFIDENTIAL